Brazilian Ambassador honours Pak street child football team

ISLAMABAD - Ambassador of Brazil in Pakistan Alfredo Leoni hosted a ceremony in honour of Pakistan street child football team, who won bronze medal at the Street Child Football World Cup, here at the Embassy of Brazil on Monday. Pakistan team members, coach Abdul Rashid and representatives of three Pakistani institutions, who supported the team, including Naveed Hasan Khan (Azad Foundation chairman), Amjad Rasool (Muslim Hands director) and John Wroe (Street Child World Cup CEO). Children of three institutions of Islamabad and Rawalpindi including Mashal Model School, Lettuce Bee Kids and Rah-e-Amal and students of Portuguese Language Course and Capoeira (the traditional Brazilian wrestling sports) Course of Embassy; Dan Dohrmann (Country Representative of UNICEF), Marc Saba (Country Representative of UNAIDS), David Skinner (Country Representative of Save the Children) and Nageen Hyatt (Director of Nomad Culture Center) were also present on the occasion. Alfredo Leoni pointed out the importance of sports as a tool for social organisations and institutions to promote education and take children out of the streets. He praised the young Pakistani footballers for their achievement in Brazil, which would be an inspiration for all children in Pakistan. He thanked the presence at the event of representatives of Azad Foundation, Muslim Hands, Mashal Model School, Luttuce Bee Kids and Rah-e-Amal and also lauded the excellent work done by these institutions in helping children in need. He then granted shields to all Pakistani footballers, their coach, the chairman of Azad Foundation and the director of Muslim Hands, as well as prizes for the winners of the football goal competition with which the event had begun. This is the second time the Embassy of Brazil hosted an event with Pakistani street children. The first time was in March 2013, when the Embassy brought to Pakistan the Brazilian music group ‘Patubate’ (who uses recycled and garbage items as musical instruments). Alfredo Leoni also promised to issue Brazilian visas to Pakistani fans without charges, with just only one condition that was the spectators, who were interested to travel to Brazil to witness Soccer World Cup starting from June 12, must show a valid ticket of any match.